Monbeg Park seeking back-to-back successes in competitive Leopardstown handicap chase

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A tricky contest to assess, especially given plenty of fancied horses could do without too much rain hitting the track, but it makes sense to start with last season's winner Monbeg Park, who arrives back off a 2lb higher mark for trainer Jack Foley.

The nine-year-old has not really built on that impressive win, with his best effort since coming at Punchestown in October when runner-up to the smart Heart Wood. He shaped well enough when finishing 14th in the Listed Paddy Power Chase over Christmas, given his stamina just petered out in the straight, while he seemed to do too much out in front last time at Thurles in a strong Grade 2.

Back in handicap company, he holds strong claims under talented 5lb claimer Michael Kenneally, but he would not want the ground to deteriorate any further.

Quai De Bourbon is well handicapped based on his third in last season's Irish National and will be fine on the ground, but this trip is on the sharp side and he has been pulled up in both starts this season.

Gorgeous Tom ran a cracker when fourth in the Coral Gold Cup last time and holds leading claims, particularly on a decent surface. Similarly, Jordans would have a good chance if the ground dries out, as he struggled on a very bad surface in the Thyestes Chase last time. He brings Grade 1 form to the table, having chased Caldwell Potter home at Aintree last season, and this looks an ideal stepping stone to the Grand National.

Gordon Elliott saddles two, and The Wallpark caught plenty of eyes when a staying-on second behind Oscars Brother last time. He's well treated over fences, but this trip is short of his best.

Broomfield Bijou ran a big race after a long layoff when second at Thurles last time. She seems on a nice mark, particularly on her runner-up effort in Grade 2 company last year, and should be bang there if she can improve from her seasonal return.

Of the rest, O'Toole has been in fine form this season and had excuses for a below-par effort at Haydock, while An Peann Dearg's two career wins came at this track last season, and he showed a bit of spark when seventh at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Ground and weather

The ground is soft to heavy on the hurdles track and yielding to soft on the chase track. The forecast is heavy rain on Sunday, but mainly dry on Monday.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Jordans
Hopefully it'll be nice ground. The course and distance should be very suitable for him. He's been training well since Gowran, and we're hoping he shows he's come forward from that run.

Jack Foley, trainer of Monbeg Park
He won it last year, and he's in off a nice weight with Michael [Kenneally] taking off 5lb. Michael was on him the last day in the Paddy Power Chase, and he ran well for a long way. We're hoping he has his chance and he likes a bit of nicer ground.

James Hannon, trainer of Broomfield Bijou
She ran a cracker at Thurles, and we were delighted with that as she was off the track a good while before that. Her owner was planning to cover her, but we said we'd run her to see if she could come back to her form. The ground was probably a bit too soft for her, but she ran great. We're probably coming back a fraction quick, but there aren't a lot of options for her and she ran well in this last year.

By Chris Cook

El Fabiolo the class act at Leopardstown

El Fabiolo is the big name on Monday's card at Leopardstown, which is quite a steep decline from two years ago, when he started at 2-9 for a Queen Mother Champion Chase. His ability over fences has fallen apart in the manner of Constitution Hill, so he was returned to hurdles and hacked up at Punchestown on New Year's Eve before finding the Irish Champion Hurdle too hot last time. There are two ways of looking at his participation in the QuinnBet Hurdle (won by French Dynamite and Jezki in the past eight years). He's a classy sort who's well in at these weights, but he's also a short price for a horse who has won one of his last eight and dropped right away last time. Maxxum provides the main opposition.

Eyecatcher Fantasy on show at Kempton

Dance Fantasy was a last-time eyecatcher on her third start, staying on nicely into third at Wolverhampton three weeks ago. She'd got trapped behind a couple of others as the eventual first two made a break for it, but ran like a horse who was ready to have a right go in handicaps. From the yard of Simon and Ed Crisford, she's in a 7f handicap (3.37) at Kempton off a fair-looking rating of 66.  

Lewis booked for Belle

In-form apprentice Ashley Lewis, who told the Front Runner about his title ambitions last week, goes to Wolverhampton for a single ride, aboard Belle Of Kt for Stan Moore. Lewis has won on seven of his 22 rides over the past fortnight, and Moore provided him with three winners from 19 rides last year. Belle Of Kt is a maiden five-year-old but failed by just a head when Lewis rode for the first time at Wolverhampton recently. Stepped up in distance, the combination will try to get it right in the 2m handicap (4.50) for apprentices that opens this evening's card.

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